Chapter n
Calvin’s expression hardened, his voice sharp w barely contained fury, “so, you’re actually saying those videos are real? All this time, you’ve been lying to us and letting us blame Scarlett? Do you even realize how much damage we’ve caused her because of you?”
Sharon’s face drained of color, her lips trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks, “I never wanted this to happen. I swear, I won’t let it happen again. I know I messed up.”
Eugene’s eyes clouded with disappointment, his voice solemn and icy. “Sharon, this is completely out of line! How could you do that to scarlett? She’s your sister!”
Sharon’s sobs grew louder, and with a heavy thud, she collapsed to her knees.
She clutched Eugene’s pant leg, her voice cracking as she spoke. “Eugene, I know I screwed up… But my life has been nothing but a struggle My adoptive parents were awful to me, when I saw Scarlett living the life I thought should’ve been mine, I couldn’t help but feel jealous.
and
“I know what I did was wrong, and I swear I’ll never make that mistake again. Please, I’m begging you. Help me get those articles taken down. I’ve worked so hard to get where I am. I can’t lose everything now…”
Her cries were piercing and full of despair. Tears and snot ran down her face, leaving her a complete wreck.
Calvin and Eugene shared a glance, their eyes a storm of emotions.
Eugene furrowed his brow, his voice laced with a hint of resignation. “Sharon, do you really get what you’ve done wrong?“.
Sharon nodded quickly, her voice shaking through her tears. “I know I messed up, I really do…. I swear I’ll fix things with Scarlett from now on. I’ll never hurt her again… Please, just help me
Calvin’s and Eugene’s anger slowly faded as they took in Sharon’s broken state. A wave of sympathy started to replace the frustration they’d felt just moments before.
They couldn’t help but remember the hardships Sharon had endured before. Watching her so broken and helpless sparked a profound sympathy within them.
After a long silence, Calvin sighed, pulling out his phone and dialing Olivia. “Make sure the trending topics get removed, and do it fast.”
He ended the call and turned back to Sharon, his tone firm. “You’re coming with us to bring Scarlett home. And you’ll apologize to her yourself.”
Her chest tightened when she heard those words. Her eyes glazed over, staring into nothingness. Her mind raced back to the fire she’d started the previous day, and a surge of
dread coursed through her
She latew all too well that swain Manor had been reduced to ashes, and that Scarlett was probably gone forever. If she went with them now, the truth would definitely come to light.
sharon lowered her head, her voice barely audibe. “I–I can’t go out right now. People online are tearing me apart, If I show myself, they’ll swarm me. You two should go. I’ll apologize to her when you bring her back.”
Calvin found her reaction strange, but he didn’t well on it.
Eugene nodded, his voice low and heavy. “Thenay home. We’ll sort things out once we have Scarlett back.”
Sharon nodded quickly, tears continuing to fall.okay. I’ll be waiting for you.”
Eugene and Calvin didn’t waste a second. They hopped into the car and took off toward Swain Manor on the outskirts of town.
Throughout the drive, Calvin’s hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles paled, a hint of unease flickering in his eyes. Eugene sat beside him, his brow furrowed, his expression weighed down by a deep regret.
Driving through the gates of Swain Manor, they spotted from afar the thick, dark smoke rising into the sky. Calvin’s stomach dropped, and he pressed the gas pedal harder, the car surging
forward.
When they pulled up in front of the manor, the scene hit them like a punch to the gut.
The manor was now a smoldering wreck. The burned walls and fallen roof loomed in the glaring sunlight. The firefighters were bustling through the wreckage, the air thick with the acrid, stinging scent of smoke.,
Calvin and Eugene leaped out of the car together, rushing toward the scene with swift, hurried
steps.
Eugene’s voice cracked with panic as he asked, W–What happened? How did the fire start?”
One of the firefighters looked up, his expression somber. “Are you the owners of this place? A fire broke out out of nowhere last night. It spread quickly, and no one reported it fast enough. The whole house was lost before we could contain it.”
Calvin’s face drained of color, his voice shaking as he managed to ask, “W–What about the person inside? There was a young woman. I–Is she alright?”
The firefighter hesitated, then gestured toward a body covered by a white sheet a short distance away, his voice low and heavy. “We just found her. She’s over there.”
